Exit polls: Israel's parliamentary vote yields no clear winner
Exit polls after polls closed project Gadi Eizenkot’s bloc at about 50 seats but no majority; Likud expected at 24–25 seats.
Exit polls released after polling stations closed indicate there will be no clear winner in Israel's parliamentary elections, pointing to a likely political stalemate.
What the exit polls show
The main surveys project that the bloc led by Gadi Eizenkot will be the largest grouping in the Knesset with around 50 seats, but still well short of a majority. At the same time, Likud, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is forecast to be the largest single party with 24–25 seats.
The gap between the largest bloc and a working majority suggests lengthy coalition negotiations ahead, with a fragmented Knesset making it difficult for any one grouping to form a stable government.
Because no side appears to command an outright majority, political leaders will likely enter a period of talks and bargaining with smaller parties and factions to assemble a coalition capable of winning confidence in the Knesset.
The exit polls reflect vote tallies reported immediately after polling closed and will need to be confirmed by official counts, which could slightly change seat projections but are unlikely to erase the prospect of a deadlock.
As final results are tallied, attention will turn to who can secure enough partners to form a majority and which alliances prove viable in the weeks to come.
Photo: DPA)
